Group formed to oversee NPA reparations for Davao grenade attack

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—A multi-sectoral group has been formed to act as third-party facilitator for the indemnification by the New People’s Army of the victims of a Sept. 1 grenade attack staged by communist rebels in Davao’s Paquibato district.

Protestant Bishop Modesto Villasanta of the Exodus for Justice and Peace said the group, which also counts journalists, lawyers and civil society among its members, was formed last week following a call from the National Democratic Front for facilitators who would help in delivering payments to at least 41 victims of the blast.

The NDF has admitted that New People’s Army rebels involved in the grenade attack had erred and has offered to compensate the victims, many of them children.

The victims were in the gymnasium of Barangay Fatima, where a carnival was being held, when the explosion took place.

The NDF said the rebels were targeting a military detachment about three meters from the gym.

Villasanta said any “move that aims to heal the wounds of this civil war that has been going on for decades and that is in compliance with international humanitarian law deserves support from peace-loving individuals.”

Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who openly admits friendship with communist rebel leaders, said the presence of the military detachment could not justify the attack although at one point he also called for the pullout of the detachment.

Villasanta said the NDF’s order to compensate the victims was a welcome step.

“I think it can be implied that this gesture from the NDFP is a manifestation of their willingness to make reparations to the civilian casualties, after harm has been inflicted on them, as its responsibility under the Geneva Conventions and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (Carhrihl),” he said.

The military said the compensation offered by the NDF was not enough and only the prosecution of those behind the grenade attack can serve justice to the victims.

“They are not the legal government, thus, they are not the authority to hide the criminals or rectify errors through their brutal kangaroo court,” said Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division.

He said those involved in the attack should be surrendered to government authorities because “they are criminals.”

“Justice will only be served to the victims if the perpetrators are surrendered and penalized, and that is what they (victims) want,” Paniza said.